Indexing mechanism for turret lathes



Fb 16, 1954 1-1. B. soULE Erm.

INDEXING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4. 1949 OOM om ON s sheets-sheet 2 Feb- 16, 1954 H. B. souLE ETAL INDEXING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES Filed Jan. 4, 1949 Feb- 16, 1954 H. B. soULE ETAL INDEXIlNG MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1949 M l ,Y www NL MUS R VCH o msu j w .MNH A Bs Nr O A Rm A@ HG Feb 16, 1954 1-1. B. soULE ET A1.

INDEXING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES 8 Sheets-Shea?l 4 Filed Jan. 4, 1949 ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1954 H. B. soULE ETAL NDEXING MECHANISM `FOR TURRET LATI-IES 8 SheAets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1949 lll lo? E hik Row B 5555? GORSIQN w. SMHHSO ATTORNE/ Feb. 16, 1954 H. B. SOUL7E ET AL INDEXING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATI-IES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 4, 1949 A@ y T1 .J m ..1 M E 7. A o m D l l 7. 2 m 1 l M ya m m .M 1 Alm@ Mm 7 n@ 1 n 5 5 2 J m w w INVENTORS OLD B. SOULE w. sMlTHS om a r' ATTORNEY Feb- 16, 1954 H. B. souLE ET Ai. 2,669,006

INDEXING MECHNISM FOR TURRET LATHES Filed Jan. 4, 1949 a sheets-sheet 7 1H Mu nl :HAROLD B. SOUL GORDBOYN w, smlfrgscm j ATTORNEY" Feb- 16, 1954 H. B. souLE ETAL INDEXING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 4

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Patented Feb. 16, 1954 INDEXING MECHANISM FOR TURRET LATHES Harold B. Soule, Barrington, and Gordon W.

Smithson, Pawtucket, R. I., assignors to Niles- Bement-Pond Company, West Hartford, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 4, 1949, Serial No. 69,184

8 Claims. l.

This invention relates to turret lathes, and more particularly to turret indexing mechanism and to the control of the turret indexing.

Frequently it is desired to provide machine tools with ind -xible turrets of large proportions to carry hcav tools hich extend far out from the turret, sometimes as much as three feet, and large turrets and the weights and leverage effect of heavy tools thereon which extend far out therefrom present obstacles to smooth. qucl: and precision indexing.

A principal object oi' my invention is to provide an improved turret indexing mechanism which is not only capable ci indexing effectively and satiriactorily turrets oi the medium smaller sizes but is also capable oi indexing smoothly, quickly and positively into precision positions turrets large sizes and turrets carrying heavy tools which extend far out from. the turret; and 'to provide indexing mechanism of this character will index 'the turrets to and hold the turrets .firmly and steadily in precision indexed positions with out setting; up strains which would be damaging to the machine or tend to impair its accuracy.

Another object of this invention is to provide turrent indexing mechanism oi the character just mentioned. that incorporates novel and improved mechanism which permits indexing of the turret while the turret-slide is in its extreme backward position and not in motion and permits the lndexing of any selected number of faces prior to the advance of the turret-slide toward the spindle, whereby the turret may be indexed past turret faces which may carry no tools or are not desired to be used, so that reciprocaticn of the turretslide with such idle turret faces toward and from the spindle nose is net required before another turret face, which carries tools desired to be used. is indexed.

Another object of this invention is to provide. for lathes, turret indexing mechanism of the character described, wherein there is a cam-drum, or equivalent means, for reciprocating the turret-- slide and which does not re ure a dwell on the cam-drum during the indexing operation of 'the turret and, consequently, more surface of the cam-drum is available for feeding operations and greater length of feed may be had at an easier feeding angle of the cam-drum track.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indexing mechanism of the character described which .is controllable in such a way that, when desired, the turret-slide may be reciprocated either during the cycle or machine operation or at other special times without indexing of the turret taking place.

Another object of this invention is to provide turret indexing mechanism of the character described which comprises sturdy and durable parts and in which replacement of parts is facilitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control for a turret indexing motor whereby the turret may be indexed to any one oi' its lndexible positions from any other index position without requiring traverse iced oi the turret or its slide; and another object of this invention is to provide a turret index motor control which operates automatically to index the turret to the desired index stations in the sequence desired, the control preferably being settable whereby the stations desired and the desired sequence may be preselected.

Another object of this invention is to provide turret index motor control so associated with a. control of the rapid traverse motor of a turret lathe that the rapid traverse motor will not operate while indexing of the turret is taking place.

A further object of this invention is to provide a turret indexing motor control which is positive. quick and reliable in action and is quickly, positively and reliably responsive to either manual or automatic actuation.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

As is customary with most turret lathes, the turret-slide is reciprocated with feed motion (a slow motion during cutting operation) and with a rapid traverse motion (a fast or quicker motion when the turret slide is not in feed motion), this rapid traverse motion being obtainable in various ways from a power source or by a separate motor. In the present illustrations a separated rapid traverse motor is disclosed and described but the rapid traverse motion may be accomplished otherwise as is known in the art.

In accordance with this invention a turret mounted to turn on a central vertical axis is provided with a horizontally disposed worm gear of generous diameter concentric with the axis of the turret so that the distance between the worm sea-r teeth and the axis of the turret will have a generous leverage component for indexing the turret against opposition to indexing ofiered by the weight of the turret and the weight and leverage effect of the tools thereon when the worm gear and turret are rotated by a worm meshing with the worm gear. Further, a separate motor is provided for rotating the worm and, consequently, rotating the worm gear and turret. The turret indexing may be controlled by dogs on the main dog-drum of the machine and may be disconnected from said control by the dog-drum dogs and be controlled through other controls, as desired. Devices are associated with the turret indexing mechanism to releasably bind and lock the turret in a precision manner, in each indexed position to which the turret has been moved by the indexing mechanism, and are operated to perform their binding and locking operations synchronously with operation of the indexing mechanisms and the turret-slide reciprocating mechanism.

The control for the turret index motor is electrical and includes dogs on a control dog-wheel and a dog or dogs on the dog-drum of the machine, the dogs operating to adjust switches in the motor circuit to start and to stop the index motor to index the turret to the desired index stations in the desired sequence; this control preferably so controlling switches in a circuit to the rapid traverse motor (or its equivalent) of the machine that said rapid traverse motor cannot start while the indexing motor is running.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and methods of operation which will be pointed out hereinafter and the scope of the application of which will be set forth in the claims that follow.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of this invention, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the turret-slide end of a machine tool or turret lathe, in which my invention is incorporated, Vwith the turret-slide mounted thereon, certain parts being broken awa-y and others indicated by dotted lines to more clearly show the construction;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l with certain parts being broken Y away and others indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is an end view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as Viewed from the right of Figs.

portion of the mechanism and is taken substanz tially on the line 8-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the turret-slide and taken through the axis of the turret to illustrate a portion of the mechanism and showing a lower fragmental portion of the turret, and is taken on the line 1 -'1 of Fig. 4;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a detail showing the locking bar operating cam and fragments of adjacent parts;

Figure l is a sectional View of another `detail of the mechanism including the clutch operating lever and is taken substantially on the line 16--10 of Fig. 4;

Figure l1 is a side elevation of the'assembly of control dog-wheel and its drive and associated switches of the index control, the outer cover of the assembly housing being removed;

Cal

Figure l2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 11 and is taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11; and

Figure 13 is the circuit layout and wiring diagram of the control.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

This invention relates broadly to machine tools and particularly to automatic turret lathes but, since the invention is specifically related to turret indexing mechanism and its control, it is deemed unnecessary to illustra-te an entire machine tool and, therefore, in the drawings there is shown only as much of the turret-slide portion of an automatic turret lathe as is required to fully and clearly illustrate the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which may constitute one possible embodiment of this invention. Accordingly, in the drawings, and to which reference is now made, only a portion of the turret-slide section of the turret lathe is shown. The base 2S of the machine is usually a heavy casting adapted to support and contain other parts of a machine tool at suitable elevations and has a flat or tablelike upper surface that provides the bed for the turret-slide 102 and has o. hollow interior that houses various mechanisms including the turret-slide actuating cam-drum 21 (see Fig. 3) having an operative connection with the turretslide by means of a cam-follower 22 suitably mounted, as at 23, on the under side of the turret-slide, whereby the latter may be reciprocated by said cam-drum.

As is usual in turret lathes of this type, the bed i011 is provided with slideways 101 on which the turret-slide 162 reciprocates to move the turret toward and away from a rotatable spindle (not shown). The turret slide 102 is a hollow casting open on its under side between said ways 161 and provided on its upper side or wall (near its forward end) with an annular combination i'iat top and internal tapered bearing surface 103 on which the turret 104 rests for rotation there- 0n (see Figs, 2, 5 and 7). To the underside of turret 104 is secured, as by bolts 105 and dowel pins 10S, a locking plate or disc 101. The turret and its locking plate are rotatable about a stud sha-ft 1118 which extends through a bore in a central boss 1113 of the turret 1G# and a bore in a central boss of the turret-slide 192, the upper end 111 of stud 165 being threaded and protruding from boss 169 and carrying a nut 112, and the lower end 113 of the stud 108 also being threaded and carrying a binder nut 1 14. The binder nut 1 14 co-a-cts with a compression spring 115 encircling the boss 110 and is compressed between an annular surface 11S of the slide 102 and a collar 111 above surface 116 which is confined on the stud 10B by an overlapping shoulder 118 on said stud. rhus, when the nut 114 is tightened on the stud 103, the turret is drawn down on and binds the turret to bearing surface 103 of the slide 152 and, when loosening the nut 114 on stud 1518, spring 115 is allowed to elevate stud 108 relatively to the turret to the extent permitted by the amount of loosening of nut 1 14 and thus unbinds and loosens the turret on its bearing 103 so that the turret may be freely rotated on the slide for indexing. The means for tightening and loosening binder nut 1 14 will be described hereinafter.

The power for indexing the turret may be, as shown, a separate electric motor 120 supported in any suitable manner on the machine base and drives, as through belt or chain |2I, a shaft |22 rotatably mounted within the machine base longitudinally of the movement of the turretslide |02 and carrying a long pinion |23 keyed thereon. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a castellated shaft |25 is disposed within the turretslide longitudinally of its movement and is rotatably journalled in suitable bearing on the turretslide and a gear |24 is splined on the castellated portion of said shaft and slidingly meshes with the elongated pinion |23 in all positions of the turret-slide on the machine bed. A gear |26, keyed to another portion of said shaft |25, meshes with a gear |21 keyed to a shaft |28 Within the turret-slide |02, shaft |28 being journalled in suitable brackets |29 and |30 on the turret slide. The shaft |28 has mounted thereon two spaced worms |3| and |12 the former actuating the operating mechanism for the turret binding and locking devices and the latter indexing the turret which is accomplished upon engagement of the clutch |10-l1l, the said clutch being engaged and disengaged by the movement of the turret lock bolt |46.

The worm |3|, keyed on shaft |28, meshes with a worm wheel |32 fixed to a hub or sleeve I 34 rotatably carried on shaft |33 (Fig. 7). This hub presents a double cam having cam parts |35 and |38 which engage, respectively, two fingers |31 and |38 of a lever |39 which has a hub |40 attached, as by pin |4| and key |42, to the binder nut ||4 on the turret stud |00. Nut i4 becomes tightened on the stud |08 as the rise of cam part |36 cams lever |39 in one direction and nutv ||4 in loosened on stud |08 as the rise of the other cam part |35 cams lever |39 in the opposite direction (see Fig. 8), thus alternately binding the turret to and unbinding the turret from the turret-slide.

The turret locking disc |01 has formed on its periphery a number of notches corresponding to the number of index positions (or faces) of the turret |04 and, when the turret is in any one of its index positions, a locking bolt |46 is adapted to enter and fit snugly in the corresponding notch of the locking disc to hold the turret securely and firmly in its precision indexed position. The locking bolt |46 is slidably housed ina slideway provided therefor in and under the top wall of the turret-slide |02 and the locking bolt is continuously urged toward the locking disc by a helical compression spring |41 which has its forward portion seated in a bore |48 therefor provided in the locking bolt and has its rearward portion abutting a fixed part of the turret slide part |50 and encircling a guide pin |49 secured to part |50. The locking bolt |46 is retracted by means of a rotating cam |5| on 4the cam hub or sleeve |34 (see Figs. 7 and 9) and engages a cam roller |52 carried on a lever |53 which at one end is pivoted on a pin |54 mounted on the turret-slide |02 and at its other end has a projecting nose |55 seated in a notch |56 provided therefor in the locking bolt; the lever |53 thus being moved alternately in opposite directionsi. e., by the cam |5| to retract |6| seated between the fingers of the bifurcated end |62 of a lever |63 which is centrally pivoted on a stud |64 mounted on the underside of the top wall of the turret-slide |02, the other end of lever |63 being rotatably pinned, as by pin |65, to one end of a rod or bar |66 slidably seated in a bracket |61 formed on or secured to the turretslide. Rod |66 has the clutch yoke |63 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) secured thereto and the arms 68 of the yoke engage one member |10 of a pair of complementary clutch members |10-|1|, member |10 being splined on shaft |28 for slidable movement into and out of clutching engagement With the other clutch element |1| fixed to the worm gear |12 which is rotatable with member |1| on shaft |26. This worm gear |12 is in mesh with a worm wheel 13 fixed, as by bolts |14 (Figs. 5 and 7) to the turret locking disc |01 so that when worm gear |12 rotates the turret rotates.

The double binder-nut-cam ISE-|36 and the locking-bolt-cam |5| are so shaped and positioned on the hub |34 of Worm wheel |32 to effect the sequence of loosening the binder nut ||4, retracting the locking bolt |46 which causes an indexing drive of the turret, and then the locking of the turret by the bolt |46 which discontinues the indexing drive of the turret and tightening the binder nut H4. The locking-bolt-cam |5| need not hold the locking bolt retracted until the next notch in the turret locking disc arrives opposite the bolt because, after the cam has retracted the locking' bolt and the turret has started indexing rotation, the end of the locking bolt may be allowed to ride on the circular periphery |15 of the locking disc |01 and be held in retracted adjustment thereby until the next notch arrives opposite the end of the locking bolt.

When it is desired to index the turret, the sequence of operations is as follows: The motor |20 is started (as by a dog d on dog-drum D, Fig. 13) imparting rotary motion to shaft |28, thus causing worm |3| to start rotating the cam sleeve on hub |34. This first causes binder-campart |35 to engage finger |31 of the binder lever |38 and move the lever to loosen nut ||4 on the threaded end |53 of turret stud |08. Then continuing rotation of cam hub |34 causes locking bolt-cam |5| to displace lever |53 to retract the locking bolt |46 against the pressure of biasing spring |41, the bolt |46 in turn rocking lever |63 about its fulcrum |54 to shift slidable yoke rod |66 to engage clutch elements |10|1| and causing worm 12 to rotate the turret |04 toward the neat index position. The locking-bolt is held |5| then releases lever |53 and the bolt is held retracted by the circular periphery |15 of the locking disc |01. When the next locking notch |45 of the locking disc registers with the end of the locking bolt |46, the spring |41 snaps the bolt into the notch and this movement of the locking bolt, acting through lever |63 and rod 66, disengages the clutch elements |10|1| and indexing of the turret stops. Now, the cam surface of the binder-cam-part |35 releases the nger |31 of the binder lever and the other binder-carn-part |36 engagesl the other finger |38 of the binder lever |39 and moves the lever (in a direction opposite to that by cam part |35) to tighten the nut I4 land to bind the turret against the bearing surface |03 of the turret-slide. If the motor |20 continues to rotate, the above sequence of operations will be repeated as long as the motor runs. v

In the operation of automatic turret lathes, the indexing of the turret takes place when the Y and is provided with adjustable :close it across switch contacts Vshown in Fig. 13 (this switch be' l biased to close across its contacts therefore the operation of the indexv |20, is stopped by an index-stop-control desig- .nated 304 in Figs. 1, 2, il and i2 and by the elecchine. ,button type, is mounted on the base 385 of the l?. z, 203b is operated by a do 'when arm 2G31: is not beine; by said dos` or dogs 35E.

vindex motor through a. worin 3e? n :308 which is coupled., as at 30S, to th i turret-slide v*|02 is in its rearmost position on the bed of the machine-i. e., fully withdrawn from vthework or tools, as the case may be, carried in a Vsuitable chuck on the nose ci" the spindle-and,

in most cases, the turret-slide |02 dwells in .position by reason of a cam dwell on the camdrum 2|. vWith the present inventionfminimuin .dwellis to be provided on the cam-drum 2| for ,.thisipurpose, butinstead the cam-drum will be -stopped (as well as all movement of the turret :slide and. of the machine control drum D). during. .the indexing of the turret, after the index- ...ing operation has been started by the dog drum D shown in Fig. 13, when indexing is desired.

The present invention provides suitable control Inother words, the control may [is stated, the turret indexingis initiated by the rotatable dos' drum D oi the niachine-which may be of any usual type` driven synchronously with the turret-slide movements .-.and preferably from the spindle or the spindle .drive (not shown) of the machine in a manner n@ `well understood by persons iair- .matic machine tools and as shown ents Nos. 1,881,928 and 2,357,396,

brought to engage and operate establish a circuit to the index niet.:

' normally and 292). As is most always the case in automatic lathes, the turret-slide |'32 i brought forward feed or cutting; positions by a znotion-usually referred to as rapid traverse, to

its rearmost position for the indexing of the turret, where the turret indexing takes place. This fast motion or rapid traverse of the turret-slide and the motion of its driving; parts or mechanism is brought to a stop by the present invention when the indexing of the turret is begun or initiated by the dog d on the dog drum D. Gn the `irret, and "n ng motor other hand, the indexing of the trical circuits shown in Fig. 13.

As best shown in Fiss.' stop-control 35M compi casing in which is disposed dosr wheel i rctaizbl' mounted on a stud shaft 352 xed to the wall of the casing which is supported on the base 20 of the ina- An index-ston-switeh 2%, of the l2 the indexcasing 30d and has its button portion actuated by an arm ZiSb pivoted in a bracket 203e. The 'arm 203D has a f arranged to depress the button 203ml to ope Lhe switch when arri- 55 SSG on dog wheel 30|, to close switch 2%, iiectivelv operated g and releases said button 2 ,a .L with worm gea-r teeth 3% and i..

index motor |20. One or more of the dof-Is are turret faces orl turret indexing positionsona.

given machine). There are four 4) ofA such dogs 300 shown in Figs. 11 and 12 because the turret |04 is shown in Fig. l as having four (4)"faces; however, as just stated, a less number of-dogs 300 be provided, When 4setting-up:the-machine, according to the number ofindex positions of the .turret that are to be employedLduring the cycle of the machine for a giveniworking operation duringsaid cycle. The drive for indexing the turret and thedog. wheel 30|; and their drives .(both Vfrom the motor |20). areso relatively.. .proportioned and ysynchronized that, for one complete revolution of the dog wheel 30|, the turret is also vrotated a full revolution; that is, theturret is indexed through all intermediate index stations and back to the initial .index station. By providing and properly adjusting one or more index-stopping-dogs 300 on andiabout the dog wheel. 30|, the index motor ymay, be stopped and the indexing of the turret discontinued at any preselected one or successive `faces or stations oi' the turret for performing work or cuttingl operations.

Obviously, if only one dog 300 is provided on the dog wheel 39| and the index motor.` |20 is started, the turret would be indexed through as many i'aces or indexed positions according to the position o s, d single index-stop-dog 300 on said wheel 35| beiore index motor |20 is stopped. rihus, in the present invention it is possible to lp one or more faces of the turret when indexthe turret ili and while the `turret-slide |02 ipping 'turret faces, as just explained, actor |23 will continue operation until 1.' an indexing-stop-dog. 300; and in i A rent, the loci; bolt |46 will enter its notch .di at each index station and, through lever |63 1 slide rod |56, will momentarily disconnect utch ITB- VIL but, since the indexmotor |20 still running and its drive connection (above iescribed) is still rotating said worm |3| and cams |35, |3, and |5|, the binding nut ||4 will bind and unbind the `turret and then the lock bolt |613 will be withdrawn, which latter movement of said loci: bolt |46 will again aotuate lever |63 and rod IBG to engage clutch |'i0-I l| to further index the turret-and so .on-thus skipping one or more turret faces, as is obvious, until a dog 320 on wheel 33| opens switch 203 to cie-energize index motor |20.

also provided on the dos' wheel 30| are completed-i dex dogs 35S, and in the broad aspect of the invention, there beine at least as many such dogs 3HE as there are dogs to Contact a .switch arm 255i; to close a switch 255 to rapid traverse motor TM starting the latter, after 1ndexing of the turret has been discontinued. However, in the present J:noodiment or the invention, shown, there are many completed index dogs 3H! xed on the doi; wheel 32| as there are tuzmet faces or index positions or stations of the turret, one of said dogs being located on the dog wheei to correspond with each index position of the turret, respectively, and arev adapted to contact switch arrnA 255B to close a rapid traverse safety switch 255 after each turret index position or station has been reached (and'said turret locked and'bound as above described) soV asto allow the rapid traverse motor'TM to `operate the driving mechanism of the turret slide 4|02 (not shown, but Well known in the art) and, consequently, the cam drum 2| and' theV dog drum' D; but. shouldr there be no index-'stopidog 5300**011 Wheel 32| at any turret index position or station just preceding a dog Sill, the closing of switch 255 is ineilective to start the rapid traverse driVe or motor TM and the indexing of the turret continues. The operation of the dogs 3|@ upon switch will he later described. Switch 25 is identical with switch and its detailed construction need not be repeated except that the push button of switch 255 closes said switch 255, when depressed by the arm 2535i) being engaged by a dog 3H), whereas such operation of push button 283e@ opens Switch 2cd. In the present embodiment, the completed-index dogs 3io may remain in position on the dog wheel 'siii and therefore are referred to as fixed, while index-stop dogs 200 may be omitted and replaced on the wheel according to the set-up of any given operation of the machine.

Operation of control With the contacts 205 and 2332 closed by index-initiating-switch 2% (see Fig. i3), as when this switch is not being operated by dog d of dog drum D (i. e., while the turret-slide |02 is performing certain of its operations as when in its feed movements or is in its rapid traverse motions to and from its feed positions and a dog 3|!) on dog wheel t0! is holding completedindex-switch 255 closed), the current passes from power line A through conductors 224, 2240i, switch contacts 26|, 202, conductor 25|, normally closed interlock switch 252, conductor completedindex switch 255, conductor 255, terminal 25h of switch-box TS of the rapid traverse motor TM and from the other terminal 251| oi said switch-box TS through conductors Zia, 2|3 and 2|0a to power line B, and, since rapid traverse motor TM is fed by lines a, b and c from power lines A, B and C, respectively, through switchbox TS, rapid traverse motor TM is operating cam drum 2| and dog drum D and, consequently, the turret-slide m2 is being reciprocateo, on its ways |09. It may he noted that a feed stop switch and main rapid traverse switch, and possibly others, may be interposed in conductor 25| and controlled by the dog drum D or manually, or both, for purposes well understood in the art but they are not a part of the present in vention. Moreover, when switch 200 is closing contacts 28| and 222, as just mentioned and as shown, current passes from conductors 25| and 205, normally closed interlock switch 2ii6, conductor 251i', normally closed indexing-stop-switch 203, conductor 269, relay .R and conductors 2|!) and 2me to the other power line B, thus ener-- gizing control relay R.

When energized, relay R closes (as shown) a normally open interlocl: switch 2 and thereby establishes a holding circuit to this relay R, which circuit lay-passes switch 2%, and current flows from line A through conductors 22d, 2Mo, 2|2, closed interlock 2li and thence through conductor 2|3 to conductor 201, which, as stated, is connected through normally closed index-stop switch 25.13 and relay R to power line B. Relay R, when energized, also opens interlock switch 250 in said by-paes circuit to the rapid traverse motor TM and, further, closes an interlock switch 214 in a circuit to an index-*notor-starting relay RM, thus conditioning said latter circuit to energize relay RM when index-initiating switch 252i! is thrown to close contacts 2ili--202a.

As above stated and with the control in this position as shown in Fig. 13, the turret-slide |02 is either in its feed motion or, if the rapid traverse fl u motor TM is running, is in its rapid traverse motion, unless said slide has been otherwise stopped by other means not shown. Now assuming the turret slide is in rapid traverse motion and moving toward its rearmost or turret indexing position and just as said position is reached, a dog d on dog drum D throws index-initiating switch 200 to open contacts 20| and 202 and to close contacts 26| 2i22m thereby energizing index motor relay RM (while relay R is Still held energized 'oy its holding circuit), the current passing through conductors 204, 2Mo, switch contacts 2LH, 202e, conductors 2|5a, 2|5, 2H, switch 2|4, and conductor 2 ila to relay RM and thence through conductors 2|8 and 2|0a to the other power line B; and, at the same time, by said operation oi index-initiating switch 200, a relay R-I is energized to open the direct circuit to control relay R (through contacts 20| and 202, conductors 205 and 251, index stop switch 203 and conductor 209) without breaking its holding circuit so that, after relay R is cie-energized by opening of index-stop switch 203, and its holding circuit broken, relay R cannot be re-energized-and thereby condition the index relay RM or permit power operation of the index motor |2Ei--until the dog d on dog drum D or manually operated key k has released index-initiating switch 200 from contacts 20| and 202a and switch 200 has returned to bridging contact with contacts 20| and 2&2.

Relay RM, now being energized, closes normally open switches S1, S2 and S3 in the power line to the index motor |20 and starts it, there being three conductors al, b2 and c3 leading respectively from the three power lines A, B and C to said motor |23, and said-switches S1, S2 and S3 being in each of the conductors. Relay RM, when so energized, also opens another interlock 2552 in the circuit of the rapid traverse motor RTM stopping said motor, if running, and also closes an interlock switch 220 that establishes a holding circuit through relays RM and R-l around switch 200 should the dog d on dog drum D overrun and release switch 20@ from bridging Contact with contacts 20) and 202a, said holding circuit including conductors 204m, 2|2, 22| leading to one side of switch 220 (now closed) and conductor 2|5 leading from the other side of the switch 220 to conductor 2li than through closed switch 2M and conductor 2 lla to the relay RM and also through conductor 2W to relay R-|. Thus, relay RM will remain energized so long as relay R is energized and conditioning interlock switch 2 |l| remains closed after index-initiating switch 200 has bridged contacts 20| and 202a, even though. contacts 20| and 202@ of switch 230 are disconnected by overrunning of the dog drum D; and relay R-| remains energized so long as relay RM is energized or as long as switch 20D remains in bridging contact with contacts 20| and 292:1 so as to prevent re-energization of relay R, after each opening and closing operation of index-stop switch 203, until index initiating switch 205 has again bridged contacts 23| and 252. Also, just as the turret indexing motor |20 is started, it rotates dog-wheel 300 to move a dog Jill? out of contact with switch arm 25522, thus releasing completed index switch 255 and allowing it to open. The switch 255 remains open until operated by the next dog 15H0 at the completion of the turret index, which has just now begun.

The index motor |20 will now continue to run as long as relay RM remains energized and turret indexing continues for as many turret faces, posi- 1 1 tions or stations for which the machine 'has been set-up by the position of dogs '300 on the dogwheel 30 I.

Just as each turret indexing operation is con.- pleted, a properly adjusted dog 300 opens switch 203 momentarily to allow the following operations `and to stop index motor IN1-namely, opening switch 203 breaks the circuit to relay R, deenergizing it, which causes holding circuit interlock switch 2| i of relay R to open and conditioning switch 2|4 in the circuit of relay RM to open, thus breaking the holding circuits of these relays R and RM; closes interlock 250 to condition a bypass Circuit to the rapid traverse switch box TS through conductor 2|2, 2|2a, 205e, 205, 25|, 253, and 254; deenergizing relay RM causes powerline switches S1, S2 and S3 to open cutting-ofi power to the indexing motor |20; opens .interlock 220 breaking the holding circuit to relay RR-l,

which de-energizes and closes interlock 20d to n,

condition main feed circuit (204, 20m, 20|, 202, 205, 201 and 209) to re-energize relay R when index-stop switch 203 closes and should indexinitiating switch 200 be bridging contacts 20| and 202; and also closes conditioning interlock 2.52 .in

the .rapid traverse motor contrcl circuit-and, with these operations having been completed, the index motor |20 is allowed to coast suihciently to rotate dog wheel 30| a short distance so as to di."

engage the dog 300 from the switch operating arm ."f

203D and allow said switch 20'@` to close and so as to bring a succeeding completed-index dog Bit into contact with arm 25512 and close completed index switch 255 in the rapid traverse motor circuit, said dog wheel 30| coming to rest in this position and maintaining switch 255 closed.

With the relays and switchesin the condition just stated. the index motor |20 is stopped and the lrapid traverse motor TM is now started and the turret-slide cam drum 2| and the dog drum D start to operate if the dog d of dog drum D has previously released switch .200 Ato'open contacts 20| and 202e and to bridge its contacts 23| and 202 (unless other means, not shown, have caused thel machine or the turret-slide movements to .l

stop) and thereby also causing relay R to become re-energized and, consequently, its holding circuit rfa-established and the switch 2M to again close to condition the circuit to relay RM for the next turret indexing operation to be initiated by the next dog .d2 on dog drum D or by manual key lc. It should be noted, however, that, when switch 203 was opened by dog 300, relay R was momentarily de-energired until dog 300 passed switch arm 2031), but this caused switches 2| and 2 N to open i breaking the holding circuits to-relay R and to the index motor relay so that even after switch 203 has reclosed, as above mentioned, the index motor |20 will not start again until and unless the index-initiating switch 200 has been closed again across contacts 20| and l2.02a, either by a dog on the dog drum D or by a manually operable key or lever k. However, after relays R and RM were de-energized by the opening and closing of index-stop switch 203, as stated in the preceding paragraph, should the dog d on dog drum D not have released the index-initiating switch 200 to open contacts 20| and 202:1 and bridge contacts 20| and 202, the relay R-I will remain energized from contact202o'l through conductors 2|5 and 2.1.6 (thus holding interlock 206 open to prevent relay R from becoming re-energized and closing switch 2M and thereby energizing index relay RM to start another index operation) and the circuit to the rapid traverse switch box TS will vnot have been closed by switch 200; but, since interlock 250 is closed when relay R is de-energized, current may pass through by-pass circuit (204e, 2|2, 2|2a, 250, 205s, 205) to conductor 25| of the circuit to the rapid traverse switch box TS (as interlock 252 and completed index switch 255 are now closed) to start rapid traverse motor to operate and thereby cause dog drum D to move dog d to release switch 20d so as to bridge contacts 20| and 202, whereby relay is `re-energized, relay Rfl cle-energized and rai traverse motor TM continues to run until anc oer turret indexing operatic-n is initiated by a on dog drum D or manual key k cr other controls of the machine (not shown) are brought into play.

In the event of power failure before an indexing operation has been completed, and switch 200 is still bridging contacts 20| and 202e power may be restored to relay R by closing a manually operable reset push-button switch 222 in a conductor 223 connecting conductor 204 to conductor 201, and hence to rel-ay R. Energizing relay R closes interlock 2|4 which completes the circuit to index relay RM (if switch 200 is bridging contacts 20| and 202e) thus starting vthe index. If power fails before an indexing operation has been completed, and switch 200 is bridging contacts 20| and 202, relay R is automatically energized, when power is restored, and operating switch A200 manually will restart the index as before described. lt 'will be observed that the above described safety controls provide against the index motor |20 being started while the rapid traverse motor TM is running and vice versa because-since relays R and RM are energized when the index motor |20 is running and switches 250 and 252 are held open, as explained abovethe rapid traverse motor circuit will remain open even though completed-index" switch 255 becomes closed and that the closing of the circuit to the rapid traverse .motor switch box TS 1equires the de-energizing of relay R to open interlock 2 |4, which de-energizes relay RM to close interlock 252 in the rapid traverse control circuit.

Conversely, as soon as the index motor |20 starts and indexing operation begins, the dog wheel 30| moves the completed-index dog 3|0 fromv the completed-index switch 225, thus opening said switch and preventing actuation ofthe rapid traverse motor until completedindex switch 255 is again closed by one of the dogs 3|0 on the dog wheel 30|, after a de-energization of relays R and RM.

While `the disclosure herein is shown for convenience in connection with a four 4) faced turret |04, it can be applied to machines having turrets of more or less faces, but an .advantage of the -present invention is that the manufacturer may makea machine of one size with the usual maximum number of turret faces-which is usually six faces-because the dog wheel 30| can beset up with only the proper number of dogs 300 in order that the turret will be indexed to use only .the number of turret faces as the tooling of the machine requires. The same turret face can be brought to the spindle a second time or more by merely omitting dog d from dog drum D. Also the lock-bolt disc |01, as well as the Worms |3| and |12 and their worm wheels |32 and |13, respectively, may be replaced from stock without requirement of any re-machining of the turret bore or turret faces as is now the case, particularly with Geneva type indexing mechanisms.

13 It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the present invention as herein shown and described is for the purpose of showing one (and at the present time the preferred) example thereof because the invention is capable of modification without departing from the spirit and principle thereof and that the invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed, as new, is:

y 1. A turret indexing and locking mechanism for machine tools comprising, in combination, .a reciprocable turretsupport, a drive means for reciprocating said support, a turret rotatably mounted on said support for movement to sue cessive indexed positions, a gear fast on said turret, a controlled source of power for driving said gear at a selected and predetermined time, a lock bolt engageable with said turret, a driving connection Ibetween said source of power and said gear including a clutch, a clutch shifting device connected to said clutch and operable to engage and to disengage said clutch, a rotary camming mechanism driven from said last mentioned driving connection to operate said clutch shifting device to engage said clutch, biasing means .actn ing upon said clutch shifting device to normally hold said clutch in disengaged position and said lock bolt in engaged position, and a control member on and rotatable with the turret and engag s1.;

ing said clutch shifting device to prevent disengagement of the clutch except at predetermined times.v

2. A turret indexing and locking mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clutch shifting device includes the lock bolt as one of its operating members, and the control member has a circular perimeter .against which the lock bolt yieldingly rides and further has circumferentially spaced notches therein into which said bolt is projected by said biasing means, whereby movement of said lock bolt into a notch disengages said clutch and stops said index movement of said turret.

3. A turret indexing and locking mechanism as set forth in claim l, wherein the under surface of the turret rotatably rests upon a seat on the turret support, a stud shaft extending axially from said turret through an opening in said support and having a binding nut on its extended end portion to bear against the said support to bind said turret upon its seat, cam engaging fingers xed for movement with said nut and projecting into the path of cams on said camming mechanism and positioned to be alternate 1y engaged and disengaged to rotate said nut in opposite directions, whereby the turret may be bound or unbound when said clutch is disengaged or engaged, respectively.

4. In a turret indexing and locking mechanism for a machine-tool and in combination., a turret support; a turret rotatably mounted on said support, a gear connected with the turret to rotate in unison therewith, a motor, a loch bolt engageable with said turret, a driving connection between said motor and gear for rotating the turret and including a clutch, a rotatable cam device operable to engage and to disengage said clutch, mechanism driven .at selected times by said motor and including means to operate said device, when so driven, to engage the clutch and simultaneously disengage said lock bolt, other means engaging said device and adapted to operate said device to disengage the clutch and engage said lock bolt, and a control member rotatable with the turret and engaging said de- 14 vice and controlling movement of said device into clutch disengaging position.

5. In a turret indexing and locking mechanism for a machine tool and in combination, a turret support, a turret rotatably mounted on said support, a gear, a locking disc, a locking bolt therefor, said turret, said gear and said locking disc being connected to rotate in unison, said locking disc having bolt receiving notches therein, an in-- dexing motor, a driving connection between said motor and gear for rotating the turret and lock ing disc and including a clutch, a clutch shifting device connected to said clutch and including said locking bolt shiftable into and out of the notches of the locking disc, camming mechanism driven from said driving connection to said gear and operating said device to engage the clutch lli and to shift said locking bolt out of locking engagement with said locking disc, and means .f engaging said device and adapted to operate said device to disengage said clutch and to project said locking bolt into a notch of the locking disc when a notch of the locking disc is in alignment with the locking bolt.

6. In a turret indexing and locking mechanism for a machine tool, and in combination, a turret support, a turret rotatably mounted on said support, a gear, a locking disc, said turret, said gear and said locking disc being connected for rotation in unison, said locking disc having bolt receiving notches therein, a locking bolt mounted to be moved into and out of said notches, means engaging the bolt and biasing the bolt to move into a notch of the locking disc when a notch is in alignment with the bolt, an indexing motor,

a rotary camming mechanism driven by the .motor to actuate the locking bolt to move said bolt out of a notch of the locking disc, a driving connection between said motor and gear for rotating the turret and locking disc and including a clutch, and a clutch shifting device connected to said clutch and operated by said locking bolt whereby, when the locking bolt is moved out of a notch of the locking disc, the clutch is engaged to cause the turret and locking disc to be driven by said motor and, when the locking bolt projected into a notch of the locking disc, the clutch is disengaged to interrupt the drive connection between the motor and the turret and locking disc.

'7. In a turret indexing mechanism for a .machine tool and in combination, a turret support, a turret rotatably mounted on said support. binding means engaging the turret and the support and adjustable to bind the turret against the support and adjustable to unbind the turret from said support, a gear connected with the turret to rotate in unison thereby, a source of indexing power, a driving connection between said source oi" power and said gear for rotating the turret, said connection including a clutch, an adjusting connection between said driving connection and said adjustable binding means for adjusting said binding means to bind the turret and to unbind the turret from the support, a rotary camming device operatively connected to said clutch to engage and disengage said clutch, mechanism driven by said driving connection to operate said device to engage the clutch, and means engaging said device to operate said device to disengage said clutch.

8. In a turret indexing and locking mechanism for a machine tool and in combination, a turret support, a turret rotatably mounted on said support, binding means engaging the turret and support and adjustable to bind the turret against the support and adjustable to unbnd theturret from the support, a locking dise having bolt receiving notches and connected to the turret to rotate in unison therewith, a locking beit shiftable into and out of the notches of the locking disc, means engaging the bolt and adapted to project the bolt into said notches, operating driving connections from a common source to the turret to rotate the turret and to the binding means to adjust the binding means and to the locking bolt to retract the locking bolt, the connection to the turret including an adjustable Clutch, and a connection including a rotating caniming device between the clutch and the locking bolt to retract the locking bolt and engage the clutch whereby when the clutch is engaged a driving connection to the turret is established and, when the locking bolt enters a notch, the clutch is disengaged to break said driving connection.

HAROLD B. SOULE. GORDON W. SMITHSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Johnston Aug. 16, 1887 Potter et a1 Sept. 30, 1913 Eaton July 17, 1917 Coulter Dec. 26, 1922 Chapman Feb. 19, 1924 Hunter Feb. 7, 1928 Curtis Feb. 25, 1930 Class July 7, 1931 Curtis Sept. 9, 1941 Curtis Nov. 16, 1943 Godfriaux Sept. 19, 1944 

